Comment Archives: Last 30 Days
Re: “I Went to an ICP Show Last Night and I Think I Might Be a Juggalo Now”
First and foremost, thank you for writing this and talking about how much fun an ICP show can be and what the experience was like for you. I really appreciated it. I want to address something you said, though.
I don't think ICP are misogynistic. I identify as a feminist as well and have been a juggalo for 17 years. I'm 31. I'm an artist.
What people don't understand about ICP is that they are an art group that isn't out there making music for you feel catharsis to. They use the words bitch and faggot quite a bit, they talk about violence, they sound like music that you expect knuckle dragging cave men to listen to. It's not like Death Metal where you are letting go of your aggression. They're telling stories, sometimes horror, sometimes comedic, sometimes... something else. A lot of us first bump ICP because we think "cool, I can blow off steam" but then we listen to what is actually being said - and not the way it is being said - and we either stick with it (juggalos) or we drop it like it's hot (non juggalos). If all you want is violence and gore and sexism, there are a million rappers out there doing it. ICP use those things to talk about spirituality, "family" and what it means to be "good".
Calling them misogynistic because they say bitch is a huge mistake. You're writing off someone who is actively teaching young men to value and respect women regardless of their dress size or weight or whatever. You're actively writing off someone who speaks out against domestic violence and rape.
If you're only going to read into the surface, they might sound pretty sexist. I agree. My first time hearing "Hate Her To Death" really got to me. But then I started thinking about it in the context of the album The Mighty Death Pop. The video ends with the boy crumpling up a drawing of a girl that he's basically been obsessing over. He has killed a couple of boys who bully him and it looks like he is going to kill her too. This sounds terrible, but in the context of the Mighty Death Pop, it makes sense. The album is about how negative emotions can take over and if we allow those negative emotions to run wild, we will push ourselves towards a "catastrophic demise".
Also, it's easy to assume that ICP fans are all midwestern men when the pictures we see are from the gathering. The gathering is in the midwest. There are juggalos all over the world who identify in many different social classes.
again, thanks for the great piece. I hope you go back and listen to their albums with an open mind. Maybe try to see in their music what we see. We see inspiration. We see permission to be ourselves no matter what. We see a call to treat EVERYBODY like family.
Re: “I Went to an ICP Show Last Night and I Think I Might Be a Juggalo Now”
I just want to say, that as a stay at home mom of two and also been down since 03, Its nice to see you enjoyed yourself. We are a family, not a gang, and the rep we get is understandable if you just look at the media's attention on us. There is no stereotypical juggalo. We don't fit in a box, and there is no putting us in any sort of demographic. We are low-lifes and accountants, men and women, white and black, big and small, angry and happy. At a show, we are nothing else but family. I'm happy you got to experience one of our 'Sunday Dinners' and I hope you consider going again. As a woman, I would like you to listen closely to the lyrics they have and maybe rethink the misogynist stand-point. They don't hate on just women, they hate on everyone for one reason or another. Thats the comedy in it, not really hate, just poking fun at every demographic. Its all in good fun. Juggalo's are jokers by nature. Welcome to our world. :-)
Re: “I Went to an ICP Show Last Night and I Think I Might Be a Juggalo Now”
Finally somebody who understands the culture even if for just a few minutes. And that's the beauty of being a juggalo. I've met some great friends and true Juggalos only been to one or two shows. I've been down since 1994, and therefore have seen a lot of shit come and go. I've heard all the mainstream media bash Juggalos as violent angry people, and even have had to deal with the FBI labeling me as a gang member because of my hatchet man tattoo. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have a masters degree I'm working a high-level office position. Hopefully more mainstream media will go to a show, and then share their opinion. It's the only true way to remove the ignorance and stigma around basically a group of people who just enjoy the same music and the company of one another, and every now and again a faygo bomb to the face. Thank you for the article, hopefully it'll open the minds of others.
Re: “Breaking: California Medical Marijuana Regulation Bill Fails, Voting Irregularity Challenged”
This bill will not do anything to protect from federal interference, only congress can.
What this bill would do is damage safe access. This bill if you read it, will kill family farms, and small to mid size safe access centers, and create a coercive monolopy on the state level.
Controled by "big pot" and a selfelect unaccountable board of lobbyist, whose paycheck would come from the fee from the expensive , intended to push the little guys back underground, and fines of gardens cuaght above ground who aren't on a madatory cultivator list? Which is an easy grab for feds? Mr. Downs , please consider how dangerous this bill is to patients and providers , who aren't the 1% players, the wrong hands that Tom is in, we can't and shouldn't support policy that exclude compliance , making outlaws, becuase we cant afford a pay to play scheme nor should we support law that expose growers to feds, or make my medicine cost more, this is bad policy!
Kill the bill!!!
Re: “I Went to an ICP Show Last Night and I Think I Might Be a Juggalo Now”
i say the thing about everyone worldwide is theres a lil bit of juggalo in all of us i think it was cool for you to go out n be sumwut shocked of what our world is about not all are as accepting and what not but was an amazing artical n lyk they say never judge a book by its cover we may be known as a gang in some towns or cities but theres a fair amount that dont claim that and may hate it but you kno its all negative press saying that if it werent for the negative press the inside wouldnt be as warm as it is ive never judged anyone n nor will i sumtimes people just have to find their own kinda shit you know i been down since i was 7 n still down im 25 so ive been here for awhile hahaha anyways you have a good day
Re: “I Went to an ICP Show Last Night and I Think I Might Be a Juggalo Now”
as a longtime supporter of them and also a college educated, gainfully employed, never arrested adult i applaud this article. Its good to see some positive press about them. Go to any metal,alternative,or god forbid hip hop show and try to talk to people in line, you might get a few people who will open up and be friendly, but most people will clam up and immediately shun you. At a ICP/Juggalo event its quite a different story, if you are cool they are cool and its a good atmosphere. Its just a bunch of people having a good time, and its a shame that simple minded elitists thumb their noses and assume that they are somehow better then the motley assortment of humanity in line at a ICP show. Plus i defy you to go to any other show and see a more theatrical,intricately planned show, dont go for the music, go for the spectacle, which has always been what the "Carnival" is about. They are the first to admit that they arent great musicians, they are entertainers, and by god they are professional ones.
Re: “I Went to an ICP Show Last Night and I Think I Might Be a Juggalo Now”
well Caleb, let me tell you this, you arent a fuckin juggalo just cause you go to 1000 fucking shows. you can be a juggalo and NEVER go to a show. being a juggalo isnt about how much fucking merch you wear. it isnt about how many shows or gatherings you get to go to. Its about finding music and family in a place you never expected. Its about ACCEPTANCE of EVERYONE and its about the abolishment of hate, bigotry and intolerance. Its about feeling alone it the world and finding out you arent. And above and beyond ALL of that, its about LOVE!!! You dont have to like the music or be a fan. You sir, have MUCH to learn about being a Juggalo. Judged Under Gods Grace And Love Only.
Ellen, I am glad you were shown a bit of the real side of being a juggalo and what we are really about. I am especially proud that not only did you go to an event expecting it to suck and found yourself having fun, no , that part is great, but what is especially awesome is that you were willing to admit that you enjoyed it IN SPITE OF you expectations and then you get on here and admit it, and share with some of the "normal" public your experience. Thanks for your openess and honesty!!! 2 whoops and Much Clown Love!!!
Re: “I Went to an ICP Show Last Night and I Think I Might Be a Juggalo Now”
whoop whoop i love the friendly nees of the fans and the band that is waht drew me in and i been down now for 14 years the friends i made and the only ones that have stood the test of time are my juggalo family they are the best. and dude dont hate juggalos are not about hate she finally found a amazing group of people and juggalo isnt about the amount of shows you go to or the songs you know it is about being one a family without hate or direspect, or discrimination really everyone and anyone can be a juggalo as long as you leave all the negitive out. remember juggalos are a family not a group of haters.
Re: “I Went to an ICP Show Last Night and I Think I Might Be a Juggalo Now”
Whoop whoop yo!
Re: “I Went to an ICP Show Last Night and I Think I Might Be a Juggalo Now”
not a fucking juggalo if u go to one event
Re: “Where Are Los Angeles' 135 Legal Medical Marijuana Dispensaries?”
Stewart richlin is spot on, and asa needs to stop trying in any manner, including steph sherer bogus peace for patients, which is asa re branded project to say their a grass roots patients org or a citizens lobby group.
They are a lobby firm that in an act of coercive monopoly with political elects shut down more safe access than DEA and IRS combined. And thousands of good jobs killed by a fake union that's in bed with asa.
Re: “Throwing More Money at Police”
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Re: “Throwing More Money at Police”
Should be mentioned that some half billion dollars of Oakland's obligations are for totally unfunded medical retirement benefits for all of its General Fund employees.
That debt was not created by any stock market volatility or investment bad luck.
Money was never set aside to pay for that obligation. Not even at the height of the dot com or the real estate bubbles when Oakland tax revenue was growing.
Instead, somewhere back in the early 2000's, Oakland used much of its growing revenue for increasing compensation of all city employees to one of the highest in the country. (I don't think it greatly increased money on social programming, but I'd have to check.)
The one two punch was that around 2003, Oakland retroactively increased every existing Oakland employee's pension something like 33%, including that of Council members and staff. That decision alone has added many millions to our CALPERS cost.
Re: “Throwing More Money at Police”
Darwin, the one certainty is that CAlPERS investment performance will be volatile for the foreseeable future because it has a very high percentage of it's investments is stocks, hedge funds, and real estate as compared to the much higher percentage in bonds which private sector corporate and union pension funds keep. Further, CALPERS continues to assume a historically high investment rate of return that forces it to invest in high risk optimisticallly high return investements.
My understanding is that the stock market boom of the last year or so has restored CALPERS investment portfolio very close to what it was at it's peak before the recession. What that tells me is that CALPERS was way underfunded even at the height of the prior stock market/real estate bubble.
So yes, CALPERS had already factored in the approx doubling of the stock indexes by this April.
According to a Sac Bee blog: the April 2013 decision by "a CalPERS committee yesterday approved raising employer rates roughly 50 percent over the next seven years, replacing actuarial methods that kept rates low during the recession with a new goal of full funding in 30 years." "The accounting changes approved today also will amortize CalPERS' investment gains and losses over a fixed 30-year period. Fixing the amortization period obligates CalPERS to pay its obligations by a specific date. Currently, CalPERS resets the amortization period annually, essentially pushing its debts forward year after year.'
"The accounting changes won't hike what employees in pay toward their benefits because their contributions cover only "normal" costs, not the total $87 billion unfunded liability that their pension plans have racked up over the last several years."
"It's left to employers -- and by extension, taxpayers -- to fill that gap with more money for CalPERS to invest. The policies that the board approved today will force public agencies to kick in more money for at least five years starting in 2015-16 to pay down those long-term debts."
http://blogs.sacbee.com/the_state_worker/2…
Keep in mind that CALPERS is still using extremely aggressive (aka high risk) assumption that its investments will earn in the aggregate, over 7% per year for the next 30 years. Most private sector and union plans assume under 5% because the trustees of those plans can go to jail if they under fund their pension plans. No such penalties for trustees of public employee pension plans.
That lack of personal risk for the trustees, combined with the fact that CALPERS trustees are mostly union leaders and public officials or their appointees, creates a situation that encourages risky investment decisions. The public officials are under pressure to kick the funding can down the road so that fellow elected officials don't get blamed for cutting public services or raising taxes to pay for retirement benefits that should have been funded out of current tax revenue and investment returns long ago. Up till now, union officials went along with the public officials so as not to anger the voters. Now some union officials are more worried about the whole public retirement system collapsing than public officials are.
In other words, CALPERS "plays the market." As one of the rare consistently successful stock market investors I have known told me "never, put most of your retirement savings into the stock market. Far too risky." But the CALPERS trustees know that it's heads CALPERS wins, and tails CALPERS wins also because the taxpayers are required by state charter to guarantee California public pensions. That's a recipe for future disasters.
For a history of CALPERS from a conservative source, see http://www.city-journal.org/2013/23_1_calp…
Re: “Streetcars Might Make a Comeback in Oakland”
Well Craig, you're right about the difference between "streetcars' and "interurbans" but I'm afraid I have to disagree with you about both the cost and the benefits - and you seem to be outnumbered by the other commentors here who like the idea. A streetcar from MacArthur BART through downtown and then down International would undoubtedly have far higher ridership than San Jose's badly planned system, and other systems have been built for less than $25 Million a mile. When a freeway overpass costs $50 or $75 million that doesn't seem enormous.
Re: “Björk Breathes New Life Into Craneway Pavilion”
This venue is on the Bay Trail. Cycling is a viable option.
Re: “The Return of Gasland”
Gas land opened many eyes to Big Oil's devious tactics towards natural gas and fracking. Sadly, our government is in bed with them and wants to drill our lands to sell the gas abroad. It'll leave our our water and air polluted; like Texaco (Chevron) did in the Amazon.
Re: “San Jose Medical Cannabis Patients See Taxes Rise to Ten Percent”
Why is medicine being taxed? Pharmaceuticals are not taxed. Is cannabis not medicine?
Re: “I Went to an ICP Show Last Night and I Think I Might Be a Juggalo Now”
Oh, and if you'd like to talk about ICP and feminism, I'd love for the chance to elaborate. drop me a line @arainbowinblack on twitter.